Imitation hole for putting greens



Nov'. 4, 1924. 1,513,917

E. MCL. LONG IMITATION HOLE FOR PUTTING GREENS Filed March l, 1924 Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMI'IATION HOLE FOR PUTTING GREENS. hij

Application filed March 1, 1924.

T0 all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, EUGENE MCLEAN LONG, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have made a new and useful Improvement in Imitation Holes for Putting Greens, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this sort which may lie on any surface, whether smooth or rough, and serve the purpose of a hole in a putting green so that one may practice putting either on a fioor or on turf, as desired.

This and other objects are accomplished by my invention, one embodiment of which is hereinafter more particularly set forth.

For a more detailed description of my invention, reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved device, and

Figure 2 is a cross section of the same.

Throughout the various' views of the drawings, similar reference characters designate similar parts.

My imitation hole 1 is composed of a cloth bottom 2 which may be made of cloth or any other very flexible material, which will lie either on a smooth surface or a rough surface, and this cloth has a number of radially disposed tabs or ears 3 to which are connected the radially disposed roller plates 4. Each roller plate lies, as shown, on its tab 3 to which it is firmly fixed and has its upwardly and inwardly disposed end 5 curved with a gentle curve from the bottom part 6 and this curvature is so great that it is greater than that of a golf ball 7 so that when the ball rolls on a plate 4 it will roll the same on the cloth 2 and Hex the part of the cloth near the plate, as indicated in dotted lines, and thereby raise the same and permit the ball to pass over without material obstruction. Once the ball Serial No. 696,137.

is clear of the plate gravity immediately restores the plate to its normal position, the flat end 6 being heavier than the upwardly disposed end 5, as is obvious.

It will be noted that there is an entire absence of hinges or anything else which can in any way obstruct the smooth movement of the ball, so that once the ball is rolled so that it should go into the hole represented by the inner ends of the parts 5, it will go in as far as the plates 4 are concerned and once in it will stay in.

When in use my improved device is placed wherever desired, on a smooth or rough surface, as may be convenient, and then a golf ball '7 is rolled in the conventional manner and if properly directed it will pass over one or more of the plates 4 and roll it or them, as above described, and enter the inner part, whereupon this plate o-r these plates will be restored to normal and the ball will be held in position and cannot escape. By this means it is possible to closely simulate the conditions which exist on putting greens.

While I have sho-wn and described one embodiment of my invention, it is obvio-us that it is not restricted thereto, but that it is broad enough to cover all structures that come within the scope of the annexed claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

In a device of the class described, a flexible base of cloth or similar material having radiating parts, roller plates fixed to said parts with upwardly and inwardly extending ends of less weight than the parts secured to the base so that when a golf ball rolls over one or more of said plates, it or they will roll with it and permit it to pass over and free of it or them and then it or they will restore to normal by rolling back into the ordinary position or positions.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 21 day of February,

EUGENE MoLEAN LONG.- 

